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A '''government in exile''' is a political group that claims to be a country's legitimate government, but for various reasons is unable to exercise its legal power, and instead resides in a foreign country. Governments in exile usually operate under the assumption that they will one day return to their native country and regain power. 

Governments in exile frequently occur during [[war]]time occupation. For example, during the German expansion of the [[Second World War]], numerous European governments and [[monarch]]s were forced to seek refuge in the [[United Kingdom]], rather than face certain destruction at the hands of the [[Nazism|Nazis]]. 

==Current governments in exile==
Governments in exile often have little or no recognition from other powers. Governments in exile currently include:

*{{flagicon|Georgia}} The [[Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia]], a pro-[[Georgia (country)|Georgian]] government claiming to represent the breakaway [[autonomous republic]] of [[Abkhazia]] is currently located in the Georgian-controlled part of this region, the [[Kodori Valley]].
*{{flagicon|Belarus|1991}} The administration of the [[Belarusian National Republic]] exiled since [[1920]] and currently led by [[Ivonka Survilla]] in [[Toronto]], [[Canada]]. See [[History of Belarus#BNR|History of Belarus: BNR]].
*{{flagicon|Burma|1948}} The [[National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma]] is led by Sein Win. It is composed of members of parliament elected in [[1990]] but not allowed by the military to take office. It is based in [[Rockville, Maryland]], [[U.S.A.]].
*{{flagicon image|Flag of Cabinda.svg}} Based in [[Kinshasa]], the [[Republic of Cabinda]] was invaded by [[Angola]] in the year [[1975]]. Cabinda had been a Portuguese protectorate, while [[Angola]] had been a colony. 
*{{flag|Chechen Republic of Ichkeria}}.  The government is largely based in [[Western Europe]], [[Arab]] nations, and the [[United States]].  Some members are fighting in the rebel movement against the [[Russian Army]].
*{{flagicon|Equatorial Guinea}}  The [[Progress Party of Equatorial Guinea]] has proclaimed [[Severo Moto Nsá]] "President" in [[Madrid]] exile.
*{{flagicon|Ethiopia|1897}} The [[Crown Council of Ethiopia]], led by H.I.M Prince [[Ermias Sahle Selassie]] and based in the [[Washington D.C.]] area, claims that the Emperor is still the legal head of [[Ethiopia]].
*{{flagicon|Iran|1964}}  The [[Iranian monarchy|Monarchy of Iran]], led by [[Reza Pahlavi]] and currently living in [[Potomac, Maryland]], [[U.S.A.]].
*{{flagicon|Laos|1952}} The [[Royal Lao Government in Exile]], based in the U.S.A.<ref>[http://nightwatchworldnews.blogspot.com/2006/05/2577.html NW World News Prayer Network: # 2577<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
*{{flag|Sovereign Military Order of Malta}} was ejected from [[Malta]] by [[Napoleon]], however it has retains its claims of [[sovereignty]] under international law and has been granted [[United Nations General Assembly observers|permanent observer status]] at the [[United Nations]]. The Order is considered to be the main successor to the medieval Knights Hospitaller and has [[Sovereign Military Order of Malta#International status of the Order|diplomatic relations with]] 100 states.
*{{flag|Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic}} (SADR) of [[Western Sahara]] is headquartered in the [[Tindouf]] region in [[Algeria]] but controlling what it calls the [[Free Zone (Western Sahara region)|"Free Zone"]] in the eastern part of Western Sahara.
*{{flagicon|Serbian Krajina}} The [[Republic of Serbian Krajina Government in Exile]] has been based since [[26 February]] [[2005]] in [[Belgrade]], [[Serbia]] by the remains of the Government of the [[Republic of Serbian Krajina]] after Croatian forces pushed out the internationally unrecognized entity in 1995 during [[Operation Storm]] at the end of the [[Croatian War of Independence]]. 
*{{flagicon|South Moluccas}}  The [[South Moluccas|Republik Maluku Selatan]], from the South Moluccas, [[Indonesia]], are exiled in [[the Netherlands]] since 1950.
*{{flagicon|Tibet}}  The [[Central Tibetan Administration]] of  the [[Dalai Lama]], a government in exile (based in [[Dharamsala]], [[India]]), which claims to represent the people of [[Tibet]].

==Actions of governments in exile==
International law recognizes that governments in exile may undertake many types of actions in the conduct of their daily affairs.  These actions include:
* becoming a party to a bilateral or international treaty
* amending or revising its own constitution
* maintaining military forces
* retaining (or "newly obtaining") diplomatic recognition by sovereign states
* issuing identity cards
* allowing the formation of new political parties
* instituting democratic reforms
* holding elections
* allowing for direct (or more broadly-based) elections of its government officers, etc.

However, none of these actions can serve to legitimatize a government in exile to become the internationally recognized legal government of its current locality. By definition, a government in exile is spoken of in terms of its native country, hence it must return to its native country and regain power there in order to obtain legitimacy as the legal government of that geographic area. 

==Past governments in exile==
*President [[Benito Juarez]]' Government-in-Exile during the Empire of Maximilian in [[Mexico]], from 1864 to 1867.  Unique in that the Juarez [[Cabinet]] remained in Mexico, in the northern capital of [[Chihuahua]].
*[[Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea]], based in [[Shanghai]], China and later in [[Chongqing]].
*The [[Revolutionary Government of Angola in Exile]], founded in 1962 and based in [[Kinshasa]], [[Congo-Kinshasa]].
*[[Spanish Republican government in Exile]] after [[Francisco Franco]]'s coup d'état.   Based in [[Mexico City]] from 1939 to 1946 when it was moved to [[Paris]] where it lasted until Franco's death.
*[[Government of the Democratic Republic of Georgia in Exile]] after the [[Soviet invasion of Georgia]] of [[1921]] and based in [[Leuville-sur-Orge]], France.
*[[Ukrainian People's Republic|Government of the Ukrainian People's Republic in Exile]] after the Soviet invasion of Ukraine in 1920.
*The [[Free Aceh Movement]], a government in exile for the [[Aceh]] [[Provinces of Indonesia|special territory]] of [[Indonesia]], is headquartered in [[Sweden]], which had surrendered its separatist intentions and dissolved its armed wing following the 2005 peace agreement with the Indonesian Government.

===World War II and Cold war ===
Many countries established a government in exile after loss of [[sovereignty]] in connection with [[World War II]]:
*[[Belgium]] (invaded [[10 May]], [[1940]]) 
*[[Czechoslovak Government-in-Exile]] (established in [[1940]] by [[Edvard Beneš|Beneš]] and recognised by the British government)
*[[Estonian Government in Exile]] ([[1953]]-[[1992]]), in [[Sweden]] after incorporation of [[Estonia]] into the [[USSR]]; however had not received recognition by any state.
*[[Free French Forces|Free France]] (after 1940) 
*[[Greece]] (invaded [[28 October]], [[1940]]) 
*[[Luxembourg]] (invaded [[10 May]], [[1940]])
*[[Netherlands]]  (invaded [[10 May]], [[1940]], see [[Dutch government in exile]])
*[[Norway]] (invaded [[9 April]], [[1940]])
*[[Poland]] (invaded [[1 September]], [[1939]]) After WWII, the [[Polish government-in-exile]] remained in exile as a result of the Soviet occupation. Ireland, Spain and the Vatican were the last nations that ceased to recognize the government by 1979. The government dissolved itself after formally recognising the newly elected Polish president [[Lech Walesa]] and Poland's government in 1990.
*[[Yugoslavia]] (invaded [[6 April]], [[1941]])
*[[Commonwealth of the Philippines]] (invaded [[8 December]], [[1941]])

The [[Provisional Government of Free India]] (1942-1945) was established by Indian nationalists in exile during the war.

Other exiled leaders in England included [[King Zog of Albania]] and [[Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia]].

Notable examples of occupied countries which retained partial sovereignty through their [[overseas territories]] included [[Belgium]], [[Vichy France]] and [[Free France]].

====The Danish exception====
The [[Occupation of Denmark|occupation of Denmark]] ([[9 April]], [[1940]]) was administered by the [[Foreign Office (Germany)|German Foreign Office]], contrary to other occupied lands that were under military administration. [[Denmark]] did not establish a government in exile, although there was an Association of Free Danes established in London. [[Christian X of Denmark|King Christian X]] and his government remained in Denmark, and functioned comparatively independently for the first three years of German occupation. Meanwhile, [[Iceland]], [[Greenland]] and the [[Faroe Islands]] were occupied by [[the Allies]], and effectively separated from the Danish crown. (See [[British occupation of the Faroe Islands]], [[Iceland during World War II]], and [[History of Greenland during World War II]])

==See also==
* [[Provisional government]]
* [[Micronation]]
* [[List of unrecognized countries]]
* [[List of historical unrecognized countries]]
* [[List of active autonomist and secessionist movements]]
* [[List of historical autonomist and secessionist movements]]
* [[List of territorial disputes]]
* [[Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization]]
* [[United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories]]

==References==
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[[Category:Government]]
[[Category:Governments in exile| ]]
[[Category:Exile organizations]]

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[[es:Gobierno en el exilio]]
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[[zh-classical:流亡政府]]
[[id:Pemerintahan dalam pengasingan]]
[[it:Governo in esilio]]
[[he:ממשלה גולה]]
[[lt:Emigracinė vyriausybė]]
[[ja:亡命政府]]
[[pt:Governo no exílio]]
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[[simple:Government-in-exile]]
[[fi:Pakolaishallitus]]
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